The Outsiders by S. E. Hinton Genre: Juvenile literature, teen fiction, coming-of-age Age appropriateness: 12 & up Description: “Ponyboy can count on his brothers and his friends, but not on much else besides trouble with the Socs, a vicious gang of rich kids who get away with everything, including beating up greasers like Ponyboy. At least he knows what to expect—until the night someone takes things too far”. http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/outsiders-sehinton/1100458329?ean=9780140385724 Questionable elements: gang related violence, language, substance use General opinion/reviews: Many absolutely love the book, felt it was relatable, well written, and it is enjoyable at any age. Sample: Cristian Cnca rated it 5 out of 5 stars “The outsiders is a great book which tells the story of the socs and the greasers, the story gets really dramatic an suspenseful. I think that the main characters could really be real life people that can have similar problems. The neighborhood feels like it could be in a real city where there are gangs and other bad things like crimes. I really enjoyed the plot because it has dramatic and suspenseful parts that makes you not want to put down the book”. http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/231804.The_Outsiders History of Censorship: #38 on the “100 most frequently challenged books: 1990–1999” list http://www.ala.org/advocacy/banned/frequentlychallenged/challengedbydecade/1990_1999 1986- Challenged for drug and alcohol abuse, and because all characters were from broken homes. 1990-2000- Challenged for gang violence, underage smoking and drinking, use of strong language and slang, and exposé on family dysfunction. 1992- Challenged for glamorizing smoking and drinking, and its use of violence and obscenities. 2001- Challenged on the focus of gangs/gang fights. http://bannedbooks.world.edu/2011/05/08/banned-books-awareness-outsiders/
That Was Then, This is Now by S. E. Hinton Genre:Juvenile literature, teen fiction, coming-of-age Age appropriateness: 12 & up Description: “Sixteen-year-old Mark and Bryon have been like brothers since childhood, but now, as their involvement with girls, gangs, and drugs increases, their relationship seems to gradually disintegrate”. http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/that-was-then-this-is-now-s-e-hinton/1101576764?ean=9780140389661 Questionable elements: substance, death, and gang use. General opinion/reviews: There was a mixture of good and bad reactions to this text. The majority of viewers liked the book and gave it 4-5 out of 5 stars, but the viewers who gave it a lower rating did not really say what they didn’t like about the book. Sample: Tiffanysaysrawr! Gave it 4 out of 5 Stars “I really enjoy this book, so far it's pretty good detailed and keeps me wanting more. At first I was under the impression that it was a sucky crappy book but it turns out to be very extremely eye-catching and good”. http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/33569.That_Was_Then_This_is_Now History of Censorship: # 97 on the “100 most frequently challenged books: 1990–1999” list http://www.ala.org/advocacy/banned/frequentlychallenged/challengedbydecade/1990_1999
Lord of the Flies by William Golding Genre:Young adult literature, survival, adventure, fiction Age appropriateness: 13 & up Description: “The classic tale of a group of English school boys who are left stranded on an unpopulated island, and who must confront not only the defects of their society but the defects of their own natures”. http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/lord-of-the-flies-william-golding/1100154846?ean=9780399501487 Questionable elements: Dehumanization, violence, profanity, sexual content General opinion/reviews: There was a mixture of good and bad reactions to this text. A quick overview of the reviews showed that 1, 3, or 5 stars were the consistent ratings. Some liked it because of the dark elements portrayed, but others thought it was too dark. Sample: Andrew Haley rated it 4 out of 5 Stars “I was tempted to give this five stars, since in so many ways it strikes me as the kind of masterpiece, like Heart of Darkness, that I imagine will retain its horror and readability for centuries”. http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/7624.Lord_of_the_Flies History of Censorship: #68 on the “100 most frequently challenged books: 1990–1999” list http://www.ala.org/advocacy/banned/frequentlychallenged/challengedbydecade/1990_1999 #8 on the “Banned and Challenged Classics” list. http://www.ala.org/advocacy/banned/frequentlychallenged/challengedclassics
What My Mother Doesn’t Know by Sonia Sones Genre:teen fiction, romance, poetry Age appropriateness: 11& up Description: “Sophie describes her relationships with a series of boys as she searches for Mr. Right”. http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/what-my-mother-doesnt-know-sonya-sones/1100363856?ean=9780689855535 Questionable elements: nudity; offensive language; sexually explicit General opinion/reviews: For the most part the ratings range from 3 to 5 stars. Sample: Vic rated it 5 out of 5 Stars “I learned in this book that you dont have to think that someone is who they are by the way that they look, or how they talk or walk or anything like this, and when you really think about it you have more than one flaw, and this book kind of makes you realize that you shouldn’t treat people the way that someone else does because other people are doing it, or the way they look, because you don’t really know that person until you spend time with them, and also not to watch life go by, because it is short, and you will miss out on a lot”. http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/170529.What_My_Mother_Doesn_t_Know History of Censorship: #31 on the “Top 100 Banned/Challenged Books: 2000-2009” list. http://www.ala.org/advocacy/banned/frequentlychallenged/challengedbydecade/2000_2009
The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald Genre:classics, fiction, young adult, romance Age appropriateness: 13 & up Description: “The story of the fabulously wealthy Jay Gatsby and his love for the beautiful Daisy Buchanan, of lavish parties on Long Island at a time when The New York Times noted ‘gin was the national drink and sex the national obsession’…” http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/great-gatsby-f-scott-fitzgerald/1100093285?ean=9781451689433 Questionable elements: language and sexual references General opinion/reviews: The majority of the ratings looked to be an absolute favorite. Sample: Martine rated it 4 out of 5 Stars “Yes, it's a novel about the American Dream -- a rags-to-riches story about a poor man who re-invents himself as a mysterious millionaire in hopes of winning the heart of the beautiful rich girl he has fancied ever since they were young. But it's also about the shallowness of that dream, and about the corruption inherent in it -- about the lengths to which people will go for success and acceptance, not necessarily in an admirable way. It's about the gap between dreams and reality, between reality and perception, and about how modern, status-obsessed America is increasingly on the perception side of the gap. It's an indictment of materialism, of the thin veneer of wealth which hides the moral decay underneath. And last but not least, it's a story about what makes us who we are. About how we are shaped by our pasts and backgrounds, and how, no matter how far we run and how hard we try to re-invent ourselves, we are what we are, what we always were. It's a depressing message for the would-be self-improvers among us, but a true one, I think”. http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/4671.The_Great_Gatsby History of Censorship: #1 on the “Banned and Challenged Classics” list. http://www.ala.org/advocacy/banned/frequentlychallenged/challengedclassics
The Awakening by Kate Chopin Genre:fiction, love & relationships, classics Age appropriateness: 14 & up Description: “The story of a married woman who pursues love outside a stuffy, middle-class marriage, the novel portrays the mind of a woman seeking fulfillment of her essential nature”. http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/awakening-kate-chopin/1100216063?ean=9780486277868 Questionable elements: sexuality, adultery, suicide General opinion/reviews: This looks to be a book that one would either love or hate. The ratings are on one side of the spectrum or the other. Sample: Brother Odd rated it 1 out of 5 Stars (but would have liked to rate it a 0) “I had to read this thing twice in college, and it is a horrible story. We are supposed to feel sympathy for a selfish woman with no redeemable qualities. Just because her marriage is bad it does not give her the right to be a lousy, despicable person. Get a divorce? Yes. Find new love? Yes. Abandon your children, be completely self-absorbed, commit adultery, and drown yourself? No, no, no, and no. This is my problem with the book. Drowning oneself and leaving one's children without the guidance of their mother is a tragedy. The book would have you believe it is a triumph. This is the irredeemable flaw in the book”. http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/58345.The_Awakening History of Censorship: #50 on the “Banned and Challenged Classics” list. http://www.ala.org/advocacy/banned/frequentlychallenged/challengedclassics
Lolita by Vladmir Nabokov Genre: classics, romance, fiction Age appropriateness: 14 & up Description: It tells the story of the aging Humbert and Humbert's obsessive, devouring, and doomed passion for the nymphet Dolores Haze. Most of all, it is a meditation on love—love as outrage and hallucination, madness and transformation. http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/lolita-vladimir-nabokov/1100068690?ean=9780679723165 Questionable elements: pedophilia and incest General opinion/reviews: This book seems to be a favorite among the reviewers. The majority of the rating ranges 3-5 stars. Sample: Mary Ellen Latropoulos rated it 5 out of 5 Stars “I recently got into an argument with a friend about Lolita. I contend that it's one of the most beautiful books ever written, and that it's twice as amazing because Nabakov wrote it in English (which is his second or third language). She contended that it was about a child molester and was inexcusable. I argued that it was more about chronicling a slightly off-kilter man's descent into wretched madness and total loathsomeness. A portrait of a child molester, not necessarily a sanctioning of one. I don't think that portraying something is the same as condoning it. Plus, the way Nabakov manipulates language is chillingly beautiful. You find yourself seduced by his words and his worldview”. http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/7604.Lolita History of Censorship: -Banned as obscene in France (1956-1959), in England (1955-59), in Argentina (1959), and in New Zealand (1960). -Announced on November 27, 1982- has been taken off the banned list and eight years after a request for permission to market the novel in paperback had been refused. -Challenged in Ocala, FL (2006). Claimed the themes consisted of pedophilia and incest. #11 on the “Banned and Challenged Classics” list. http://www.ala.org/advocacy/banned/frequentlychallenged/challengedclassics
Angus, Thongs, and Full Frontal Snogging by Louise Rennison Genre:teen fiction, romance, humor Age appropriateness: 12 & up Description: “Presents the humorous journal of a year in the life of a fourteen-year-old British girl who tries to reduce the size of her nose, stop her mad cat from terrorizing the neighborhood animals, and win the love of handsome hunk Robbie”. http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/angus-thongs-and-full-frontal-snogging-louise-rennison/1100185950?ean=9780064472272 Questionable elements: “The frank discussion of boys, and references to lesbianism, pornography and erections have made Angus... a target for censorship in US schools”. http://www.banned-books.org.uk/sections/sexy General opinion/reviews: The majority of the reviews were rated a 4 or a 5 star. Sample: Jason Hamilton rated it a 4 out of 5 Stars “Ok, so when I first picked up this book and started reading I wasn't sure if I should be amused, confused, or repulsed. I was a little of everything. I don't know if women actually think like this when they're 14 but if they do then that's kind of sad. I suppose women would find this book funny because they can identify to a certain extent, laughing with Georgia. I, as a boy, found it funny in a “women are weird” sort of way, laughing at them. For either gender, it's funny”. http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/402013.Angus_Thongs_and_Full_Frontal_Snogging History of Censorship: #35 on the “Top 100 Banned/Challenged Books: 2000-2009” list. http://www.ala.org/advocacy/banned/frequentlychallenged/challengedbydecade/2000_2009
Carrie by Stephen King Genre:horror, thriller, fiction, fantasy Age appropriateness: 13 & up Description: “The story of misunderstood high school girl Carrie White, her extraordinary telekinetic powers, and her violent rampage of revenge, remains one of the most barrier-breaking and shocking novels of all time”. http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/carrie-stephen-king/1100292424?ean=9780307743664 Questionable elements: violence, abuse/bullying, sexual content General opinion/reviews: The majority of the reviews consisted of a positive response to the book. It was consistently rated 3-5 stars. Sample: Eleanor Rigby rated it 4 out of 5 Stars. “This book isn't a "classic" in the true sense of the word, even though I think it tried to be with its fragmented, epistolary and internal monologue style. In fact, almost forty years after its publication, what may have been cutting edge at the time comes across a little dated and hokey in parts”. http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/10592.Carrie History of Censorship: #81 on the “100 most frequently challenged books: 1990–1999” list http://www.ala.org/advocacy/banned/frequentlychallenged/challengedbydecade/1990_1999
Cut by Patricia McCormick Genre:young adult, drama, fiction Age appropriateness: 12 & up Description: “A tingle arced across my scalp. The floor tipped up at me and my body spiraled away. Then I was on the ceiling looking down, waiting to see what would happen next. Callie cuts herself. Never too deep, never enough to die. But enough to feel the pain. Enough to feel the scream inside”. http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/cut-patricia-mccormick/1100128563?ean=9780545290791 Questionable elements: self-mutilation, psychological issues, behavioral problems General opinion/reviews: There is a wide range of ratings, but the majority noted is 4 or 5 stars. Sample: Sarah Caouette rated it 4 out of 5 Stars “I believe this book does appeal to teenagers because it’s on a topic that some people can relate to. Some people have seen others go through the struggles of overcoming cutting themselves and understand what it’s like. That’s why I would consider it appropriate for high school. I believe it is good writing because the way the book is written, for example, is written from Callie's point of view as if she was talking to her personal therapist the whole time. This was very interesting to me because it showed Callie's struggles to talk to her therapist and also to other people, meaning you knew how she felt all the time. I believe the theme or moral of this book is that you can overcome anything because what seems like a big problem with no solution in the beginning of the book eventually becomes an accessible goal to Callie towards the end. Finally, I enjoyed reading this book because it showed Callie's struggles and explained how she felt while going through this ordeal. I believe we may not fully understand how people suffering from mental illnesses are feeling. But in this book you can clearly see and understand how Callie is feeling. Also it is a very quick read because you always want to know what is going to happen next to Callie”. http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/662597.Cut History of Censorship: #86 on the “Top 100 Banned/Challenged Books: 2000-2009” list. http://www.ala.org/advocacy/banned/frequentlychallenged/challengedbydecade/2000_2009
The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian by Sherman Alexie Genre:humor, young adult, coming-of-age Age appropriateness: 12 & up Description: “Chronicles the contemporary adolescence of one Native American boy as he attempts to break away from the life he thought he was destined to live”. http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/absolutely-true-diary-of-a-part-time-indian-sherman-alexie/1100163889?ean=9780316013697 Questionable elements: offensive language, racism, sexually explicit, violence General opinion/reviews: Although rates are across the board, the majority of the reviews consist of 4 or 5 stars. Sample: Gavin rated it 4 out of 5 Stars. “Confession time: I’ve been a bit of a snob when it comes to YA literature. The idea that this type of writing was beneath me, not able to give me what I wanted from a story were my main excuses. I’m not going to say that YA fiction is ever going to replace “literary” adult fiction, but I will say that it has opened my eyes. THE ABSOLUTELY TRUE DIARY OF A PART-TIME INDIAN is a magnificent read”. http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/693208.The_Absolutely_True_Diary_of_a_Part_Time_Indian History of Censorship: -2011 “voted to prohibit “The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian” for all grades, though the initial complaint came in regard to its use for ninth-grade English classes. The following month, after public outcry and after board members and district committee members read the novel, the book was declared to be “outstanding” and the decision to ban it was reversed. “The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian” explores complex issues of race, class, and identity and has come under fire for its violence, sexual content, and language”. http://www.ala.org/advocacy/banned/frequentlychallenged/timeline30-years-liberating-literature
Genre: Juvenile literature, teen fiction, coming-of-age
Age appropriateness: 12 & up
Description: “Ponyboy can count on his brothers and his friends, but not on much else besides trouble with the Socs, a vicious gang of rich kids who get away with everything, including beating up greasers like Ponyboy. At least he knows what to expect—until the night someone takes things too far”.
http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/outsiders-sehinton/1100458329?ean=9780140385724
Questionable elements: gang related violence, language, substance use
General opinion/reviews:
Many absolutely love the book, felt it was relatable, well written, and it is enjoyable at any age.
Sample: Cristian Cnca rated it 5 out of 5 stars
“The outsiders is a great book which tells the story of the socs and the greasers, the story gets really dramatic an suspenseful. I think that the main characters could really be real life people that can have similar problems. The neighborhood feels like it could be in a real city where there are gangs and other bad things like crimes. I really enjoyed the plot because it has dramatic and suspenseful parts that makes you not want to put down the book”.
http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/231804.The_Outsiders
History of Censorship:
#38 on the “100 most frequently challenged books: 1990–1999” list
http://www.ala.org/advocacy/banned/frequentlychallenged/challengedbydecade/1990_1999
1986- Challenged for drug and alcohol abuse, and because all characters were from broken homes.
1990-2000- Challenged for gang violence, underage smoking and drinking, use of strong language and slang, and exposé on family dysfunction.
1992- Challenged for glamorizing smoking and drinking, and its use of violence and obscenities.
2001- Challenged on the focus of gangs/gang fights.
http://bannedbooks.world.edu/2011/05/08/banned-books-awareness-outsiders/
That Was Then, This is Now by S. E. Hinton
Genre:Juvenile literature, teen fiction, coming-of-age
Age appropriateness: 12 & up
Description: “Sixteen-year-old Mark and Bryon have been like brothers since childhood, but now, as their involvement with girls, gangs, and drugs increases, their relationship seems to gradually disintegrate”. http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/that-was-then-this-is-now-s-e-hinton/1101576764?ean=9780140389661
Questionable elements: substance, death, and gang use.
General opinion/reviews:
There was a mixture of good and bad reactions to this text. The majority of viewers liked the book and gave it 4-5 out of 5 stars, but the viewers who gave it a lower rating did not really say what they didn’t like about the book.
Sample: Tiffanysaysrawr! Gave it 4 out of 5 Stars
“I really enjoy this book, so far it's pretty good detailed and keeps me wanting more. At first I was under the impression that it was a sucky crappy book but it turns out to be very extremely eye-catching and good”. http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/33569.That_Was_Then_This_is_Now
History of Censorship:
# 97 on the “100 most frequently challenged books: 1990–1999” list
http://www.ala.org/advocacy/banned/frequentlychallenged/challengedbydecade/1990_1999
Lord of the Flies by William Golding
Genre:Young adult literature, survival, adventure, fiction
Age appropriateness: 13 & up
Description: “The classic tale of a group of English school boys who are left stranded on an unpopulated island, and who must confront not only the defects of their society but the defects of their own natures”. http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/lord-of-the-flies-william-golding/1100154846?ean=9780399501487
Questionable elements: Dehumanization, violence, profanity, sexual content
General opinion/reviews:
There was a mixture of good and bad reactions to this text. A quick overview of the reviews showed that 1, 3, or 5 stars were the consistent ratings. Some liked it because of the dark elements portrayed, but others thought it was too dark.
Sample: Andrew Haley rated it 4 out of 5 Stars
“I was tempted to give this five stars, since in so many ways it strikes me as the kind of masterpiece, like Heart of Darkness, that I imagine will retain its horror and readability for centuries”. http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/7624.Lord_of_the_Flies
History of Censorship:
#68 on the “100 most frequently challenged books: 1990–1999” list
http://www.ala.org/advocacy/banned/frequentlychallenged/challengedbydecade/1990_1999
#8 on the “Banned and Challenged Classics” list.
http://www.ala.org/advocacy/banned/frequentlychallenged/challengedclassics
What My Mother Doesn’t Know by Sonia Sones
Genre:teen fiction, romance, poetry
Age appropriateness: 11& up
Description: “Sophie describes her relationships with a series of boys as she searches for Mr. Right”. http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/what-my-mother-doesnt-know-sonya-sones/1100363856?ean=9780689855535
Questionable elements: nudity; offensive language; sexually explicit
General opinion/reviews:
For the most part the ratings range from 3 to 5 stars.
Sample: Vic rated it 5 out of 5 Stars
“I learned in this book that you dont have to think that someone is who they are by the way that they look, or how they talk or walk or anything like this, and when you really think about it you have more than one flaw, and this book kind of makes you realize that you shouldn’t treat people the way that someone else does because other people are doing it, or the way they look, because you don’t really know that person until you spend time with them, and also not to watch life go by, because it is short, and you will miss out on a lot”. http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/170529.What_My_Mother_Doesn_t_Know
History of Censorship:
#31 on the “Top 100 Banned/Challenged Books: 2000-2009” list.
http://www.ala.org/advocacy/banned/frequentlychallenged/challengedbydecade/2000_2009
The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald
Genre:classics, fiction, young adult, romance
Age appropriateness: 13 & up
Description: “The story of the fabulously wealthy Jay Gatsby and his love for the beautiful Daisy Buchanan, of lavish parties on Long Island at a time when The New York Times noted ‘gin was the national drink and sex the national obsession’…” http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/great-gatsby-f-scott-fitzgerald/1100093285?ean=9781451689433
Questionable elements: language and sexual references
General opinion/reviews:
The majority of the ratings looked to be an absolute favorite.
Sample: Martine rated it 4 out of 5 Stars
“Yes, it's a novel about the American Dream -- a rags-to-riches story about a poor man who re-invents himself as a mysterious millionaire in hopes of winning the heart of the beautiful rich girl he has fancied ever since they were young. But it's also about the shallowness of that dream, and about the corruption inherent in it -- about the lengths to which people will go for success and acceptance, not necessarily in an admirable way. It's about the gap between dreams and reality, between reality and perception, and about how modern, status-obsessed America is increasingly on the perception side of the gap. It's an indictment of materialism, of the thin veneer of wealth which hides the moral decay underneath. And last but not least, it's a story about what makes us who we are. About how we are shaped by our pasts and backgrounds, and how, no matter how far we run and how hard we try to re-invent ourselves, we are what we are, what we always were. It's a depressing message for the would-be self-improvers among us, but a true one, I think”. http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/4671.The_Great_Gatsby
History of Censorship:
#1 on the “Banned and Challenged Classics” list.
http://www.ala.org/advocacy/banned/frequentlychallenged/challengedclassics
The Awakening by Kate Chopin
Genre:fiction, love & relationships, classics
Age appropriateness: 14 & up
Description: “The story of a married woman who pursues love outside a stuffy, middle-class marriage, the novel portrays the mind of a woman seeking fulfillment of her essential nature”. http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/awakening-kate-chopin/1100216063?ean=9780486277868
Questionable elements: sexuality, adultery, suicide
General opinion/reviews:
This looks to be a book that one would either love or hate. The ratings are on one side of the spectrum or the other.
Sample: Brother Odd rated it 1 out of 5 Stars (but would have liked to rate it a 0)
“I had to read this thing twice in college, and it is a horrible story. We are supposed to feel sympathy for a selfish woman with no redeemable qualities. Just because her marriage is bad it does not give her the right to be a lousy, despicable person. Get a divorce? Yes. Find new love? Yes. Abandon your children, be completely self-absorbed, commit adultery, and drown yourself? No, no, no, and no. This is my problem with the book. Drowning oneself and leaving one's children without the guidance of their mother is a tragedy. The book would have you believe it is a triumph. This is the irredeemable flaw in the book”.
http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/58345.The_Awakening
History of Censorship:
#50 on the “Banned and Challenged Classics” list.
http://www.ala.org/advocacy/banned/frequentlychallenged/challengedclassics
Lolita by Vladmir Nabokov
Genre: classics, romance, fiction
Age appropriateness: 14 & up
Description: It tells the story of the aging Humbert and Humbert's obsessive, devouring, and doomed passion for the nymphet Dolores Haze. Most of all, it is a meditation on love—love as outrage and hallucination, madness and transformation. http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/lolita-vladimir-nabokov/1100068690?ean=9780679723165
Questionable elements: pedophilia and incest
General opinion/reviews:
This book seems to be a favorite among the reviewers. The majority of the rating ranges 3-5 stars.
Sample: Mary Ellen Latropoulos rated it 5 out of 5 Stars
“I recently got into an argument with a friend about Lolita. I contend that it's one of the most beautiful books ever written, and that it's twice as amazing because Nabakov wrote it in English (which is his second or third language). She contended that it was about a child molester and was inexcusable.
I argued that it was more about chronicling a slightly off-kilter man's descent into wretched madness and total loathsomeness. A portrait of a child molester, not necessarily a sanctioning of one. I don't think that portraying something is the same as condoning it. Plus, the way Nabakov manipulates language is chillingly beautiful. You find yourself seduced by his words and his worldview”. http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/7604.Lolita
History of Censorship:
-Banned as obscene in France (1956-1959), in England (1955-59), in Argentina (1959), and in New Zealand (1960).
-Announced on November 27, 1982- has been taken off the banned list and eight years after a request for permission to market the novel in paperback had been refused.
-Challenged in Ocala, FL (2006). Claimed the themes consisted of pedophilia and incest.
#11 on the “Banned and Challenged Classics” list.
http://www.ala.org/advocacy/banned/frequentlychallenged/challengedclassics
Angus, Thongs, and Full Frontal Snogging by Louise Rennison
Genre:teen fiction, romance, humor
Age appropriateness: 12 & up
Description: “Presents the humorous journal of a year in the life of a fourteen-year-old British girl who tries to reduce the size of her nose, stop her mad cat from terrorizing the neighborhood animals, and win the love of handsome hunk Robbie”. http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/angus-thongs-and-full-frontal-snogging-louise-rennison/1100185950?ean=9780064472272
Questionable elements: “The frank discussion of boys, and references to lesbianism, pornography and erections have made Angus... a target for censorship in US schools”. http://www.banned-books.org.uk/sections/sexy
General opinion/reviews:
The majority of the reviews were rated a 4 or a 5 star.
Sample: Jason Hamilton rated it a 4 out of 5 Stars
“Ok, so when I first picked up this book and started reading I wasn't sure if I should be amused, confused, or repulsed. I was a little of everything. I don't know if women actually think like this when they're 14 but if they do then that's kind of sad. I suppose women would find this book funny because they can identify to a certain extent, laughing with Georgia. I, as a boy, found it funny in a “women are weird” sort of way, laughing at them. For either gender, it's funny”. http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/402013.Angus_Thongs_and_Full_Frontal_Snogging
History of Censorship:
#35 on the “Top 100 Banned/Challenged Books: 2000-2009” list.
http://www.ala.org/advocacy/banned/frequentlychallenged/challengedbydecade/2000_2009
Carrie by Stephen King
Genre:horror, thriller, fiction, fantasy
Age appropriateness: 13 & up
Description: “The story of misunderstood high school girl Carrie White, her extraordinary telekinetic powers, and her violent rampage of revenge, remains one of the most barrier-breaking and shocking novels of all time”. http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/carrie-stephen-king/1100292424?ean=9780307743664
Questionable elements: violence, abuse/bullying, sexual content
General opinion/reviews:
The majority of the reviews consisted of a positive response to the book. It was consistently rated 3-5 stars.
Sample: Eleanor Rigby rated it 4 out of 5 Stars.
“This book isn't a "classic" in the true sense of the word, even though I think it tried to be with its fragmented, epistolary and internal monologue style. In fact, almost forty years after its publication, what may have been cutting edge at the time comes across a little dated and hokey in parts”. http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/10592.Carrie
History of Censorship:
#81 on the “100 most frequently challenged books: 1990–1999” list
http://www.ala.org/advocacy/banned/frequentlychallenged/challengedbydecade/1990_1999
Cut by Patricia McCormick
Genre:young adult, drama, fiction
Age appropriateness: 12 & up
Description: “A tingle arced across my scalp. The floor tipped up at me and my body spiraled away. Then I was on the ceiling looking down, waiting to see what would happen next. Callie cuts herself. Never too deep, never enough to die. But enough to feel the pain. Enough to feel the scream inside”. http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/cut-patricia-mccormick/1100128563?ean=9780545290791
Questionable elements: self-mutilation, psychological issues, behavioral problems
General opinion/reviews:
There is a wide range of ratings, but the majority noted is 4 or 5 stars.
Sample: Sarah Caouette rated it 4 out of 5 Stars
“I believe this book does appeal to teenagers because it’s on a topic that some people can relate to. Some people have seen others go through the struggles of overcoming cutting themselves and understand what it’s like. That’s why I would consider it appropriate for high school. I believe it is good writing because the way the book is written, for example, is written from Callie's point of view as if she was talking to her personal therapist the whole time. This was very interesting to me because it showed Callie's struggles to talk to her therapist and also to other people, meaning you knew how she felt all the time. I believe the theme or moral of this book is that you can overcome anything because what seems like a big problem with no solution in the beginning of the book eventually becomes an accessible goal to Callie towards the end. Finally, I enjoyed reading this book because it showed Callie's struggles and explained how she felt while going through this ordeal. I believe we may not fully understand how people suffering from mental illnesses are feeling. But in this book you can clearly see and understand how Callie is feeling. Also it is a very quick read because you always want to know what is going to happen next to Callie”. http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/662597.Cut
History of Censorship:
#86 on the “Top 100 Banned/Challenged Books: 2000-2009” list.
http://www.ala.org/advocacy/banned/frequentlychallenged/challengedbydecade/2000_2009
The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian by Sherman Alexie
Genre:humor, young adult, coming-of-age
Age appropriateness: 12 & up
Description: “Chronicles the contemporary adolescence of one Native American boy as he attempts to break away from the life he thought he was destined to live”. http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/absolutely-true-diary-of-a-part-time-indian-sherman-alexie/1100163889?ean=9780316013697
Questionable elements: offensive language, racism, sexually explicit, violence
General opinion/reviews:
Although rates are across the board, the majority of the reviews consist of 4 or 5 stars.
Sample: Gavin rated it 4 out of 5 Stars.
“Confession time: I’ve been a bit of a snob when it comes to YA literature. The idea that this type of writing was beneath me, not able to give me what I wanted from a story were my main excuses. I’m not going to say that YA fiction is ever going to replace “literary” adult fiction, but I will say that it has opened my eyes. THE ABSOLUTELY TRUE DIARY OF A PART-TIME INDIAN is a magnificent read”. http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/693208.The_Absolutely_True_Diary_of_a_Part_Time_Indian
History of Censorship:
-2011 “voted to prohibit “The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian” for all grades, though the initial complaint came in regard to its use for ninth-grade English classes. The following month, after public outcry and after board members and district committee members read the novel, the book was declared to be “outstanding” and the decision to ban it was reversed. “The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian” explores complex issues of race, class, and identity and has come under fire for its violence, sexual content, and language”. http://www.ala.org/advocacy/banned/frequentlychallenged/timeline30-years-liberating-literature